Chapter Three: Into The Dark, Spooky Forest

A/N: I'd like to add a thanks to all of my reviewers- SlytherinPrincess5489, X-JANEY-X, hksux, iluvsmallville1, GryffindorPrincessofDarkness, and ShadowHexx771! I am so sorry this took awhile to post- for one thing, I was having trouble with writing this, and for another- school has been very busy (numerous projects that needed to get done..). So then, here's chapter three!

Hermione's POV

Earlier, right after she had split up with Draco..

The nerve that he had! Ha, and he thought I would stick around with him after that? I'm much more than what he credits me for! I've been in this sort of situation before..

Oh, who was I kidding? Me, in this big, dark, spooky forest? Alone? Honestly! I sound pathetic. I've been in a forest before, and one much worse than this one. The Forbidden Forest..full of magnificent and terrible creatures and beasts..funny, it was almost better being there than here..at least you knew what to expect in that place. To a certain extent.

And what am I doing looking for people? Ugh, all of these doubts and fears..but honestly, if I ever could find anyone, they would probably be natives- fierce, wacko natives that would kill me on the spot with their fearsome spears. This wasn't such a great idea..but then, neither was Draco's! Swimming on the ocean? He'd die of dehydration alone! Hmph. He should have listened to me. Ha- and I had found life, alright!

Well, that last point isn't as great as it sounds. Life? Yeah- bugs. Evil, atrocious bugs that keep greedily biting me, and making me itch all over! It's awful! Why didn't I just swallow my pride and not leave Draco? Was it to show that I was brave and was right? Probably. I guess I can't argue with that. I get the title of Know-It-All..so what if I have a love for reading? And the power to retain information and write two-foot-long essays, when they only needed to be twelve inches? What was wrong with that? Besides, others had talents elsewhere..on the Quidditch field, for instance. Quidditch. If it's one thing I can't understand, and don't want to understand (which is very rare), it's that.

Oh now really! I'm thinking of Quidditch at a time like this! I guess it's better than thinking of how eerie this forest is. How quiet it is, except for the hummings and chirpings of bugs, and the noise I make from stepping over branches. How every shadow seems to be something- and why is it that I feel like someone is watching me? I know there's no one here- save the bugs. My lovely, pestering friends.

But if there isn't anyone else here except me..that was good..and bad. Good because no one was out here to attack me- bad because, well, there was no one out here. My point would be proven wrong. And that wasn't about to happen.

Oh bother! That little insensitive whelp! Calling me a Mudblood! I know that in one way, I don't care- that term came at me so often from him that one extra time it slips won't matter..but that last statement of his..really hurt. Not to mention angry. "And really, you're not so bad..you're a clever Mudblood, at least." And what really made me angry was the fact that it bothered me! Why should I even care what he says? I only care when my true friends are around- Harry, Ginny, Ron...ah, Ron..

Yeah, the one that had gotten us into this whole ordeal! Why did he always have to get so furious?

But, it was cute the way his ears turned red..Blast it, Hermione! I've got to forget about him- especially when my life is at stake! Considering he's partially responsible for this happening..and he isn't here anyway. Nothing special had happened between us. Because of Draco..!

Merlin. I think I'm just having trouble accepting the fact that I'm doomed to remain on this island for the rest of my life..with Draco as company. Well, depending on whether or not he had tried his plan out..I wonder if I'd be sad if he were to die, all alone, out in the middle of sea? Ha, I'd probably show some compassion, but hardly any for that insufferable Death Eater. But then, I would be awfully alone on this crummy paradise..

It's much cooler out now, considering it's practically night in this place! The place is so thick of trees, that you can hardly see the sky. But I think it's sunset..but I'm not completely sure.

I'm getting tired. And freaked out- every shadow seems to be some looming beast. It isn't in the slightest bit helping that I have nothing to defend myself with. Stupid me, for losing my wand. Hmph. It'd probably be nothing more than a useless strip of wood here, anyway. I mean, even apparation didn't work. Bloody. Was that a shadow I just saw in those bushes? My heart starts racing, but when I glance back at it, nothing is there. I guess I'm just hallucinating, and overly paranoid. Probably from lack of sleep. Yes, that has to be it. I have to keep rubbing my eyes every five seconds. This isn't good..I should find somewhere to sleep. That would be logical..but what if something would attack me unawares? Nonsense, though. Something could be lurking behind me right now, even in my awake state. Very reassuring thought, Hermione. Honestly, this isn't any fun talking to myself in my head. It makes me feel..crazy, or something.

I'm still so..tired. But I need to stay awake! I've got to find..others. And at least a safer spot to sleep at. Hmm..maybe analyzing my thoughts and feelings on Draco could help!

Oh yes. This could keep me awake for now. Even if in my very being, very essence, I hate him..I've got to admit how appealing he is. Gorgeous hair, prominent, deep blue eyes, tan, along with fairly toned muscles. He's also fairly smart. Smarter academically, compared to Harry and Ron..though I think Harry could exceed him when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I don't doubt for a second that Draco practices in the Dark Arts..what with him being close to Snape, and Lucius being his father. Hmm. He had the whole bad boy thing going on. I can't deny that that isn't hot. If Draco wasn't a Slytherin, and if he wasn't so full of himself, I think I would've been on to him the first day we met! But then, so would the rest of the school..

Did I truly hate him though? He had never really done anything to me? Other than calling me a Mudblood, and insulting me the whole time we've known each other..not really. Couldn't have helped that I've been friends with Ron and Harry, either- but that prat insulted them, too! Hmm..I think I'll conclude that no matter how brilliant and sexy he may be, he's never going to live up to Ron..he'll never be able to beat Ron's characteristics..besides that, Ron isn't even that bad-looking. I could even partially consider Ron to be sexier, with his adorable lopsided grin. Not sizzling hot, like Draco- but hot. In my eyes, anyway.

I hate these sort of thoughts. Of thoughts of who is hot and isn't..I mean, what kind of chance did I have with them? I'm just a stuck up know-it-all to them, with loads of bushy hair. Thank Merlin I had bewitched my teeth to shrink, at least.

I would've kept thinking these things, until something caught my eye. A light. An actual flicker of light, up ahead! In that..cave! Yes, cave! This had better not be hallucinations. This was too good to be true! There really were others on this island afterall! I could prove Draco wrong! But first, I had better investigate. You never know what it could be..still, I can't help but keep thinking that I was right all along. Well, now that I see some signs of civilization, anyway. There are other people here- other pairs of people, perhaps, that were doomed with the same curse. Or maybe it was an inhabited island, afterall! But I doubt that, I mean, there were hardly any other signs of life other than the bugs. Bloody bugs. And since when did I start using such crude language, anyway?

Stealthily, I move towards the source of light. It appears to cast shadows, but none of the shadows seem to resemble people. Maybe it wasn't people at all. Maybe just a fire, or something. But I'm a logical person- how could a fire start inside I cave without some creature- or human- creating it?

I approach the mouth of the cave, crouched down, hidden from view behind some bushes. Peering closely inside, there doesn't appear to be anything new. The flicker of light was still there- the source of it must be around the bend inside the cave's interior. I want to see what it is..but it could be dangerous! I need some sort of weapon..

Ah, a stick jutting up from that bush. That could work..not like it'd do much more than scracth someone..unless I was violent and accurate enough, then I could stab the person in the eye. Wait. Wasn't I here looking for others? Not attacking them..but just in case things get out of hand..well, I'll just take the stick anyway. Better than nothing.

Quietly, I sneak right inside the cave's entrance, then stop, alert for sounds or movement. Nothing, other than my own breathing. So far, so good. You know, this will all probably turn out like a Muggle novel- I sneak up and surprise the person, but instead they'll be right behind me and take me by surprise. Well that wouldn't surprise me at all.

Okay. Of all times, why must I be so nervous? I should be bold, the person who takes action without further thought. Just like a Gryffindor. But it wasn't working..what if someone really is sneaking up behind me? But I can't turn around to check, because then someone could come up and attack me from the front and..Merlin, they could ambush and surround me! If there was someone here at all..

And here's the bend. The flicker of light shone upon its rocky surface. Well..here it goes..

Crouching down as if I'm some predator, I edge in alongside the wall, and slowly- ever so slowly, creep along..and then suddenly pounce, with stick in hand. There's the source of light- some logs piled up together, crackling away merrily. And there's also..a mat? A mat! But nobody was around. That meant..there really were others here! Oh no..there were others here..what if they were bad people? But there only seems to be one..so maybe there's only one person around? And blast it! Nothing happened, other than me finding this place! No people! But was I really so eager to find someone else- other than Draco- on this island?

I just noticed how chilled I was. Shivering, I sit down close to the fire. Mind you, I still have the stick in hand, but keep it further away from the fire- wouldn't want my only weapon to become a pile of ashes.

The fire makes my eyes dry, and even more itchy with tiredness than ever. I can't sleep..I should at least wait for the person who was here to come..or just be alert for them.

But it's all just too much. I lay down, sleepily, onto the welcoming mat. Sleep overcomes me the instant I hit the ground.

Light. Sounds. Bugs humming, bugs buzzing about. Bugs disturbing my last few moments of sleep.

Oh. Merlin. I have slept for this whole time! Something could have happened to me! Was I..still alive? I snap my eyes open and quickly sit up, taking in my surroundings. The pile of once burning logs now were a pile of ashes, smouldering. My 'weapon' was still clutched tightly in my hand.

Well, the surroudings are all the same, so I guess I'm alive. A positive way to start the day. But if I were dead, would I know it? Bah, Hermione, give it a rest. I've got to ignore myself sometimes, which is awfully hard to do- considering I'm me. Hmm...I'm surprised that no one had done something to me, unawares. What if they were hiding around the bend, or outside of the cave..? I guess I'd just have to look and find out.

I yawn, and stretch my arms out. Then I rub my eyes and get up. Cautiously, I walk around the bend. Nothing happened- no one appeared to be around. Then I step out of the cave. Still nothing. So much for finding others..but I had nothing to lose. I just have to find that person somewhere out here in the forest. On this island. But now I at least have evidence that there was someone else out here, someone else was in this forest- along with Draco and me.

Ruuummmmble. Good Godric, I'm starving. Wasn't there any food in this place? There wasn't one tropical fruit tree or anything around. Not one fish in the blasted ocean. But what if..this forest is lush, and nothing can grow without water..unless it rains often here..and this is pretty much is an enchanted island, so maybe it doesn't need water and rain..but what if there was some source of water around here? Maybe if I found a source, there would be fish swimming in it! And I could eat! Amazing what hunger could do to a girl. And at the least, I'd have a source of water to drink from. That could keep me living twice as long as I would without water. And I would also be able to bathe! That would be nice, I'm filthy from going through the mud and branches and whatever else lies within this forest.

Not really thinking about it, I start to walking along, to who knows where. Nothing exciting seems to be popping out at me. No animals, no people. And it's getting hot out. Ah, cool water would be bliss..if only I could find some! Or I could just go out into the ocean..it'd be salty, but I'm sure it's cool.

Just as I'm thinking about water, I hear a rushing kind of noise. A noise that only water would make!

I run towards where the noise is coming. I end up in a clearing, and spot a pool of water- a waterfall set into a cliff cascading down into it. Oh yes. How lucky was I to find this? Now Draco and I wouldn't suffer of dehydration! Oh. That's right- he's out on sea, somewhere..

I squat down along the edge of the water, peering down at my reflection. I'm about to dip my toes in, when something catches my eye out in the middle of the pond. Something is in the water..

I stand up and quickly back away, my heart pounding, stick in hand. What if it was some sort of monster, like the squid in the lake at Hogwarts? Well..if it was- I wasn't about to take any chances. Though the stick probably couldn't fend off a sea creature..

It's about to emerge from the water! I take another step back, and raise my stick, ready.

As the thing emerges I shut my eyes and scream, all the while throwing my stick in the thing's direction. I hear a yelp- wait, a human yelp? Oops..

I open my eyes and see an elderly man, who was rubbing his head. The stick had left an angry red mark on his mostly bald head. Once again, oops.

"Er, sir, I'm so sorry, I-"

"Who are you? What're you doing here?"

Just then I remembered how it must probably be shocking to see another person on this island- as it was shocking for me to see him. "I'm Hermione, and I was sent here with someone else to this island and I-"

Cut off again. "You know that you just threw a stick at me?" he says, accusingly.

"What?" I say, defensively. "It's just as odd to see someone here as it is for you to see me. I thought you were something else and-" Can't the blasted man just let me explain myself? Sure, I should respect my elders, but honestly. This man was getting on my nerves. And what was an old guy doing here? I thought it'd be someone more like my age. Not this.

"Sent here, you say?" He continues to look at me, with distrust in his eyes.

"Yes," I say, annoyed. "WIth another person my age- Draco. We- er, I, think that..well, maybe you wouldn't understand.."

"If you think I'm not a wizard, then you're wrong," He says, flatly.

"Oh, well, you never know-" I'm getting tired of interrupted!

"Well, I am. So..did you happen to come here with that young man by coming across a statue? If you did, the statue is cursed-" My mood was not to be tested, whether from an old man or not. Oh sure, I usually treat teachers and elder in the utmost respect- but this man was most disrespectful.

"The statue is cursed, and sent Draco and I here because we hate each other. We have to fall in love to get away," I say, matter-of-factly.

"Don't interrupt me!" He says, angrily. Well, he should have stopped interrupting me in the first place!

"Anyway," he continues, "Yes, the thing you speak of is true. It happened to us, too. Or so we think."

"You and who?" I ask.

"This girl I was with, and absolutely hated. We just didn't get along. But.." he pauses, as if in deep thought. "She isn't around anymore. She left by raft out to sea and never returned."

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. What if that had happened to Draco?

"How long ago..?"

"Many, many years ago." He looks away, then laughs. "I've been here for who knows how long, but I went to Hogwarts..did you go there, too?"

"Yeah, we just got here," I say. "It's 1997.."

"What!" he says, startled. "1997? That's impossible! Hogwarts was founded centuries before that!"

"What!" It was my turn to be disbelieving. "You were at Hogwarts at the time it was founded? How did you ever live that long?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet? You don't age here!" He snapped.

"Um, how old were you when you left..?"

"Okay, you age- but you don't die. We're immortal!"

"And how do you know that?"

"I haven't died, have I? How else could I have lived for so long?"

"But in a way, you have aged," I point out.

He says nothing. Apparently he doesn't like to be wronged. But then, neither do I.

I add, "Didn't you say that girl left a long time ago? Isn't that an awful long time on sea..?"

"Okay, I lied. She died."

"You just said-!"

"She killed herself. Jumped off of a cliff." This is all too surreal. None of this made sense! We couldn't die, yet the girl died- but you don't technically die, that man has been here since the founding of Hogwarts..supposedly.

"How..?"

"You can't die naturally. Just if you choose to, or by accident."

"Oh." Nothing else was said for a long stretch of time. Merlin. You literally are trapped here for all of eternity! That cursed poem!

The old man, still in the water, started to grow restless. He was muttering stuff, his eyes were darting all over the place, and he was fidgeting in the water.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

"I..I just can't take it!" He screams. "I've been here for centuries, alone, alive. And I'll be here forever! Because she died! It's all of her fault!"

I say, resonably, "You hated her though, too."

"But she left me here, on this island! Alone!" What was he talking about? I was right here, talking to him!

"You're just a figment of my imagination, " he says, crazed. "I can't have been here for that long- bloody, for centuries? No, impossible..it's not real. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" Without another word, he plunges down into the water. I step back, open mouthed, shocked. He splashes for a minute, but then stops. His body rose up, and floated on the water,facedown,lifeless.

Oh Merlin. This was all insane. I scream, terrified, then rush back through the woods, wanting to get away as far as possible from that man. Away. This was all just too much. Where was Draco when I needed him? Why couldn't I just have not met that man? Why?

Suddenly, I tear out of the woods, back on the shore. I continue to run, madly, not knowing where I'm going. Before I know it, I see someone. Draco. He was alive, right there. I blindly run towards him. And before I know it, I'm in his arms, crying.

A/N: If you're wondering about 2003, I was thinking that Harry's first year was technically in 1997- so that would make it 2003. Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, please review! -2003 is what I had originally, but thanks to aquamarine, I've corrected it.